New MICHELIN "Protek Max" bicycle inner tube promises optimum puncture protection

Bionics, a neologism formed from "biology" and "technology", is the name of the interdisciplinary field in which the innovative technical realisation of grandiose inventions from living nature is pursued. With the new Protek Max, Michelin's developers aim to imitate nothing less than the self-healing power of nature.

Thanks to its specially shaped rubber bulges on the tread and circular nubs on the flank, the hose is designed to compress the resulting hole in the event of a puncture and also seal it with a special gel inside the hose. The "excess" rubber from the bulges helps to reduce the tension on the hose cover, minimising the extent of damage. Combined with what the manufacturer claims is twice the air pressure stability of the Michelin Airstop, the Protek Max promises to be a real carefree inner tube. The slightly angular shape should make fitting easier and less likely to get jammed.

The new Michelin Protek Max is expected to be available from June 2011 in the most popular sizes for city, trekking and mountain bikes and can be combined with all standard bicycle tyres (tube type). The weight should be between 250 and 330 grams.